Melting ferromanganese



JOHN H. HALL AN I) RICHARD D. JORDAN, OF HIGH BRIDGE, NEW JERSEY,ASSIGNORS T0 TAYLOR-WHARTON IRON AND STEEL COMPANY, OF HIGH BRIDGE, NEWJER- SEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MELTING FERROMANGANESE.

No Drawing. Application filed July 15,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN H. HALL and RICHARD D. JORDAN, citizens of theUnited States, residing at High Bridge, in the county of Hunterdon andState of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Melting Ferromanganese, ofwhich the following is a specification.

As indicated, this invention relates to the melting of ferro-manganese.

Generally stated, the objects are to avoid the heretotore usual andundesirable loss of metal, and to simplify and reduce the cost ofmelting.

According to our invention, the ferromanganese and appropriate fuel, asfor example, coke, are charged in successive layers across the entirearea of the cupola, provision being made to avoid the destruction of thecupola lining during the melting operation. As is well known, theoxidation of the ferro-manganese, in melting, produces oxide of iron andoxide of manganese, substantially in the proportions of the iron andmanganese as they exist in the ferro-manganese. These oxides attack thelining of the cupola vigorously and if not overcome would soon destroyit. Hence, an essential step of the process is to obviate this conditionand this we accomplish through the use of a flux capable of neutralizinthe oxides mentioned. A cheap and satis actory material for this purposeis old clay brick-bats, which are broken up into small sizes and chargedin the cupola in appropriate quantities. The cupola lining is thusprotected for a longer life, and the resultant fluid slag is tapped fromthe cupola at desired intervals.

A second and important step in the process is the character of the blastpressure, which, according to our invention, is maintained much lowerthan is usual, in order to avoid appreciable loss of metal. The blastpressure is of the order of from two to eight ounces, and we find thatbest results ensue with an average blast pressure of about four ounces.Experience has demonstrated that if the pressure is substantiallyincreased, as may be exceptionally necessary for faster melting, theloss of ferro-manganese is increased out of all proportion to theincrease of blast pressure.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2 7, 1922.

1920. Serial no. 396,414..

The third important step in the process is the charging of an excess ofmetal over the daily requirements of melted material. As the charge inthe cupola descends through melting, fresh charges of ferro-manganeseand coke are added, so that the cupola is kept constantl full until theend of the days run. Under t e old practice the charging is stopped Whenthe material within the cupola is suflicient in quantity to produce thedesired weight of metal, and, hence, a considerable loss by weight offerro-manganese is entailed, owing to the cupola becoming nearly emptybefore the last metal is tapped. This loss is largely, if not entirely,obviated by the above noted third step in the process, which, asindicated, consists in charging the cupola with a quantity of metal inexcess of that required for the days melt, so that the cupola will besubstantially half full after the last metal desired has been tapped.The excess metal may of course be dropped from the cupola in an unmeltedcondition, sepa rated fromthe coke after cooling, and re .used for thenext melt.

Vith this process, and with the use of a single cupola it is possible totap a considerable quantity of ferro-manganese, say about 1100 pounds,from a cupola measuring 30 inches inside diameter, every eighteen ortwenty minutes, thereby accomplishing with one cupola what hasheretoforebeen accomplished with five or six movable cupolas. The processtherefore tends to a material saving of metal, and also to a materialreduction in cost of operation owing to the saving of time and labor inthe use of a single cupola as compared with the five or six movablecupolas heretofore necessary to produce the same quantity of material.

Having described our invention, claim 1. The method of meltingferro-manganese, which consists in charging a cupola with successivelayers of ferro-manganese and coke, and with an element capable ofneutralizing destructive chemical bases produced by the oxidation of theferro-manganese tapping at frequent intervals, and replenishing thecharge so as to keep the cupola at its capacity at all times.

2. A continuous method of melting ferromanganese, which consists incharging a cupola with ferro-manganese and coke, and

.melting the charge while maintaining low blast pressure,- in thepresence of a neutraL izing agent capable of producing a fluid slag, andtapping thecupola at regular'intervals.

3; A continuous method of melting ferromanganese, which consists incharging a cupola with ferro-Inanganese and coke and a flux capableofneutralizing destructive infiuences upon the lining, meltingwith theaid of a low blast pressure, and tapping at frequent intervals. e 4

4. A continuous method of melting ferromanganese in a ;cupola, whichconsists in charging; the latter .with term-manganese and-coke in excessof that required for the days run. -i a 5. A continuous method ofmelting ferromanganese in a cupola, which consists in charging thelatter with ferro-manganese tures.

" JOHN HQ HALL:- RICHARD 1). JORDAN.

